The lady had for several weeks given all her mind and energy to the preliminaries of this grand affair.

Who was to be invited, what sort of new dresses she and Mattie would appear best in, who was to provide the supper, and what the whole would cost, were subjects which so engaged the lady's attention that she could think of nothing else.

In vain did Chapman demur to the great expense and the folly of keeping up appearances under such circumstances.

In vain did he insinuate the probable necessity of inventing a new religion as a means of bringing his revenues up to his necessities.

A necklace of pearls and a diamond ring had been got for Mattie, and now a demand was made for a new and expensive dress.